When we first started there were a few veges that took a little bit of getting used to, working out exactly how to prepare them and use them in family meals. But, I’ve pretty much got it down now.

Parsnip cut into chunks, I roast these in the oven… they’re especially good roasted with a little honey.

Carrots I can’t get these past the kids… they’re usually gone by the end of the weekend… several of them are eaten before we even get home from the farm!

Broadbeans and peas our new favourite family pastime is shelling these and eating them at the table… they usually don’t even last until the weekend!

Pak Choi stir fries

Radish we eat these by themselves, throw them in salads, or (surprisingly) use them in our stir-fries.

Mizuna & Mibuna these threw me for a while, but I find them best wilted and used in a frittata or in a stir-fry.

Kale I am still mastering the “kale chip” (still burning more than I’m transforming!) but I’ve been using it in our frittatas, stir-fries, and also as a side just like silverbeet or spinach

Fennel is one of my favourite vegetables in the world. My favourite way to prepare it is to braise it with tomatoes, onions, chilli, anchovies (luckily we still have a jar in our fridge to work our way through!) and olives – yummy! (Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me) Barry doesn’t like it at all prepared this way…

Broccoli Raab was a new-to-me vegetable when we joined the CSA. I really love to eat them as soon as we pick up our week’s harvest… but they are also good in stir-fries.

Zucchini, obviously in stir-fries… but I also make courgette or carrot muffins for the girls as snacks for the week.

Lettuce in salads and sandwiches.

And then, last week… there was this…

Kohlrabi

I’m stumped. We’ve had a hectic week, and I haven’t had a chance to really investigate what to do with this mystery vegetable. Please let me know if you have any great recipes or simple ideas as to how to use it!!

My goal for this weekend is to use kohlrabi in at least one meal. Wish me luck!

7 Responses to “kohlrabi… what?!”

You are so lucky to have access to fresh vegetables! Most of the veggies you’ve listed I have never even seen where I live so I cannot recommend recipes. But your meals sound really yummy. :) Your happiness is contagious :)

Hi Mariwitch – I must say, many of these vegetables we cannot get from the supermarket or even the green grocers (there are many in the area I live – the outskirts of Auckland, surrounded by much green space and much medium-scale agriculture) – although I am constantly surprised by the things I happen across – things you wouldn’t have dreamed of finding five years ago! But, yes, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to try these different things. I have now experimented with kohlrabi – and I am totally hooked! Thanks so much for your very kind words!
H xo

Mmmm… I’m not sure how else to prepare them, but I think that roasting parsnips brings out a natural sweetness (kind of like roasted carrot) which is really yummy! Also, I am officially addicted to kohlrabi, and I have a perfect (and very easy) method to prepare them! Will share soon I promise!

in high end restaurants they make a parsnip puree much like mashed potatoes. They are a great way to make the holidays more nutritious. Kohlrabi can also be cut up and used to change up the standard veggie tray

Parsnip puree sounds yummy! We haven’t had any parsnips from the farm in the last few weeks, but I’ll be sure to try it. Kohlrabi crudites sound good – I haven’t tried it raw yet, so might just give it a go this week. I’m also going to give it a go as a mash, which I have heard is delicious. Thanks so much for the advice.